Chris Rose


 * When The Howdy Doody Show ended in 1960, questions about ownership's of the show's marionettes popped up. After negotiating with several prominent crew members such as series producer Roger Muir, host Bob Smith, and head puppeteers Rufus and Margo Rose, NBC finally came to a decision. The network agreed to give Smith the original Howdy marionette and hand over the other puppets to the Roses.
 * Despite not being puppeteer and having little knowledge on the subject, Smith took exceptionally good care of Howdy and always made sure to prevent him from being damaged.
 * Meanwhile, in Hartford, Connecticut, the Roses junk an old, faulty radio after being informed about a potential fire hazard.
 * In November 1961, NBC approached Smith into doing a Christmas special aimed towards children and if successful, would serve as the pilot for a brand new series. Initially, Smith declined, stating that he didn't want to be only known for children's television. However, he changed his mind after the network stated that he could just return as Howdy. When it was finally taped, Smith appeared briefly as "Bob" and sang a duet with guest host Shari Lewis.
 * The special, titled A Howdy Doody Christmas premiered on December 24, 1961 to high ratings. Centering around Howdy and Clarabell celebrating seasonal festivities while also making preparations for the big day. Shari Lewis served as the special's host with her puppets also making appearances. Smith, along with Lew Anderson, were the only cast members that had any involvement with this production.
 * It aired from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM, preempting The Colorful World of Disney.
 * The success of the special spawned a children's television series centering on Howdy and Clarabell. The series would consist of skits placed in between films.
 * Howdy appears on WNBC-TV, an NBC affiliate